Pressing machine



Feb. 23,-1943.- P. J. GAL BREATH ET AL 2,312,157

' RESSING-MAGHINE Filed 'June 13, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVE NT 0 R5Feb. 23, 1943. P. JJGALBREATH ET AL. 2,312,157

- PRESSING MACHINE I Filed June 13, 1942 2 Shets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb.23, 1943 PRESSING MACHINE Paul J. Galbreath, Kingsport, Tenn, and MarionD. Galbrcath, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Application June 13, 1942, Serial No. 446,878

6 Claims.

My invention relates to pressing machines, and particularly to powerpresses such as die presses and punch presses.

Specific stroke lengths are desirable for best results, especially inpressing machines, as in the case of punching machines, it usually isdesirable that they be given shorter strokes on thin work than onthicker work. Die pressing machines commonly are built for a givenlength of stroke, and are suitable for only a given depth of draw. Whereoperations are to be performed on work pieces that require a deeperdrawand in many cases for shallower draw-other presses of differentstroke must be provided. In some instances press capacity limitationsare such that the deeper draw Work requires successive operations ondifferent machines, with consequent consumption of time, outlay foradditional machinery and more floor space.

One object of my invention is to provide a power press which can readilybe changed to operate at various stroke lengths and thereby enable asingle machine to perform operations for which aplurality of machineshave heretofore been deemed necessary.

Another object of my invention is to provide a machine having astroke-producing crank which is adjustable about an axis that isparallel to, but offset from, the axis of the power shaft that operatesthe machine.

One of the forms which my invention may take is shown in theaccompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is a face view of the machinepartly in section; Fig. 2 is a view taken on the line II-II of Fig. 1;Fig. 3 is a perspective view of .the crank of Fig. 1, on an enlargedscale; Fig.4 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of one of thecrank-supporting members of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is an end view on an enlargedscale of one of the pinions of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a view taken on theline VIVI of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of one of thepinion-carrying screws of Fig. 1, and Fig. '8 is an end view thereof.

The apparatus may suitably comprise a framework of conventional formthat includes a bench or work-table I0 and upstanding bearing bracketsII. The brackets are of sleeve-like or collar form at their upper endsas shown at l2, and

serve to support housings l3 that in turn support the outer .raceways ofroller bearings 14. The inner raceways of such bearings are carried byrotatable shafts :15 and 16, the shaft 15 being driven from any.suitable sourceof power.

A bracket arm I! serves as an additional'bearing support fOr the shaftl5.

Each shaft has an enlargement I8 at its inner end for supporting theinner raceways of the roller bearings, and also for supporting a crankshaft l9. The usual oil sealing rings or packings are provided at 20.

The crank H] has shaft-like extensions 2! that extend into-holes-Z? inthe shaft heads I8. The axial line of these holes is radially offset adesired distance from the axis of the shafts l5-i-*Ei, and the midportion 24 of the crank that operates a pitman or presser rod 25 isradially offset from the axis of the extensions 21. Durin rotation ofthe shafts l5 and It, the pitman 25 and its head or chuck 26, that willcarry a press die, or punches, will be raised and lowered a distancedependent upon the extent of the radial offsets above referred to. Forexample, if the axial lines of the crank extensions 21 are oifset fromthe axis of the shafts l5i6 one inch, and the axis of thetool-supporting-element 24 of the crank is offset one inch from the axisof 21, the presser member may have a four-inch stroke. As hereinafterexplained, this length of stroke can be shortened by adjustments of thecrank I 9 about its axis.

The deeper portions of the holes 23 are pentagonally sided to receivethe pentagonal ends 28 of the crank shaft. A snug fit is providedbetween these pentagonal surfaces, so that the crank shaft will not haveindependent rotation in the shaft heads I8. It will be understood thatregular shapes other than pentagonal shapes can be employed to providefor rotative adjustment of the crank in the heads Hi. When a fiv'esidedcontour is provided as shown, it permits of adjustment to strokes offive different lengths.

In order to adjust the machine for making strokes of different lengths,I provide screws 29 that have threaded engagement with the collarportions I 2 of the brackets ll. At their outer ends 30 they are shapedfor engagement by a wrench, whereby they can be turned. Each screwintermediate its ends has a flange 3| formed thereon which serves as'athrust collar for engagement with the adjacent side of the housing l3,so that when the screws are turned in one direction, they will push saidhousing and its contained parts in a direction away from the bracket II.A retaining ring 2|, which is secured to the housing l3 by screws 22,bears against the shaft head l8 when the screws 29 are being thusturned, so as to push the shaft head [8 from the crank extension 21.Near one end, each screw 29 has a cylindrical portion 32 that issupported in the housing l3 and which supports a pinion 33. Each member29 carries a key 34 that extends into a key slot or recess 35 in thepinion 33, so that the screw and the inion can have limited relativerotative movement.

An internal ring gear 31, finished to give a running fit in the housing13, has meshed engagement with the adjacent pinions 33, as shown moreclearly in Fig. 2. An end plate 38 fits within the housing 13 to holdthe ring gear in position and to serve as a protective shield, the endplate in turn being held in place by a ring 39 and screws 40.

When it is desired to change the length of stroke or throw of the crank,the screws 29 at both sides of the machine will be turned to take up anyplay between the keys 34 and the ends of the key slots 35. Thereupon,hammer blows will be imparted to outer ends of hardened steel pins 4| toloosen the ends of the crank in the sockets 23. A spanner wrench can beengaged with holes 43 in the ring gear shield 38. Such rotation of thering gears in a disassembling direction will rotate the pinions 33 andthe screws 29 to effect movement of the housings i3 and the shaftsIii-l6 away from the crank l9. This movement will be continued until thepolygonally-sided walls of the recesses 23 have sufiiciently cleared theend portions 28 of the crank shaft to permit rotative adjustment of thecrank on the shaft heads Hi. If the crank has previously been so setthat its mid portion 24 is at the farthest point possible from the axisof the shafts ll6, rotative adjustment will bring such portion 24 closerto the axis of the shafts l5--I6, therefore decreasing the length ofstroke. Since the ends of the crank are of regular polygonal form, asmany different adjustments as there are sides on the form can be had. Tofacilitate adjustment of the crank and the press for a desired length ofdraw or stroke, a block or a jack can be placed on the bench II] toserve as a gage for the lowermost limit of stroke. The head 26 will thenbe brought into a position of rest upon this gage member.

Thereupon the parts are again brought into operative relation by turningthe ring gears 31 so as to rotate the screws 29 in the reversedirection, nuts 44 on the outer ends 45 of the screws 29 serving to holdthe pinions 33 in place and transmitting thrust through such pinions tothe adjacent sides of the housings I3. At the same time, the shaftsI5--l6 will be drawn toward one another, causing the shaft heads 18 tobe again drawn into close fitting engagement with the polygonal ends 28of the crank. To insure against any looseness or play, the screws 29will then be individually turned by a socket wrench or the like. Slightturning movement of these screws independently of the pinions 33 and thering gear 31 is permitted because of the lost motion key connection at3435. Dowel or guide pins are provided at 46 in. order to insure correctalignment when assembling the bearings.

I claim as my invention:

1. Press apparatus comprising a reciprocable pressing member, a pair ofaxially-aligned drive shafts having enlarged heads formed on theiradjacent ends and spaced apart, fixed bearing brackets for said heads, acrank member having extensions which are of regular polygonal form incross section and taper toward their ends, and

which extend into complementarily-formed recesses in the said heads, atpoints spaced radially from the axis of the shafts, a radiallyextendedportion on the crank member and operatively connected to the pressingmember, and screw devices having en a em n W the brackets and the heads,for moving the heads toward and from one another, to make and breaknon-rotative connection between said extensions and heads, whereby thecrank member may be turned to various rotative positions of adjustmenton said head.

2. Press apparatus comprising a reciprocable pressing member, a pair ofaxially-aligned drive shafts having enlarged heads on their adjacentends and spaced apart, fixed bearing brackets for said heads, a crankmember having extensions which are of regular polygonal form in crosssection and taper toward their ends, and which extend intocomplementarily-formed recesses in the said heads, at points spacedradially from th axis of the shafts, a radiallyextended portion on thecrank member and 0peratively connected to the pressing member, and meansfor moving the heads toward and from one another, to make and breaknon-rotative connection between said extensions and heads, whereby thecrank member may be turned to various rotative positions of adjustmenton said head, the said means comprising screws extending through thebearing brackets along lines parallel to the shafts and having thrustengagement with the said heads.

3. Press apparatus comprising a reciprocable pressing member, a pair ofaxially-aligned drive shafts having enlarged heads formed on theiradjacent ends and spaced apart, fixed bearing brackets for said heads, acrank member having extensions which are of regular polygonal form incross section and taper toward their ends, and which extend intocomplementarily-formed recesses in the said heads, at points spacedradially from the axis of the shafts, a radially-extended portion on thecrank member and operatively connected to the pressing member, and meansfor moving the heads toward and from one another, to make and breaknon-rotative connection between said extensions and heads, whereby thecrank member may be turned to various rotative positions of adjustmenton said head, the said means comprising screws extending through thebearing brackets along lines parallel to the shafts and having thrustengagement with the said heads, the screws each having a pinion rigidlysecured thereto and the pinions at each head meshing with arotatably-mounted ring gear whereby they may be turned as a unit.

4. Press apparatus comprising a reciprocable pressing member, a pair ofaxially-aligned drive shafts having enlarged heads formed on theiradjacent ends and spaced .apart, fixed bearing brackets, bearinghousings interposed between the brackets and the said heads, a crankmember having extensions that are parallel to the said shafts and whichare of regular polygonal form in cross section and taper toward theirends, extending into complementarily-formed recesses in the said heads,at points spaced radially from the axis of the shafts, aradially-extended portion on the crank member and operatively connectedto the pressing member, and screws extending through the bearingbrackets in directions parallel to the shafts and having thrustconnection with the bearing housing which in turn has thrust e agementwith the said heads, whereby p turnmg of the screws, the heads can beshifted axially to make and break the connection between the crankextensions and the said heads, to permit rotative adjustment of thecrank member relative to the heads.

5. Press apparatus comprising a reciprocable pressing member, a pair ofaxially-aligned drive shafts having enlarged heads formed on theiradjacent ends and spaced apart, fixed bearing brackets for said heads, acrank member having extensions which are of regular polygonal form incross section and taper toward their ends, and which extend intocom-plementarily-forme'd recesses in the said heads, at points spacedradially from the axis of the shafts, and said crank member, with itsextensions, being retained in its rigid operative positions byaxially-applied pressure from either side created by opposed taperedbearings and their respective supports, a radially-extended portion onthe crank member and operatively connected to the pressing member, andmeans for moving the heads, together with the tapered bearings, towardand from one another, to make and break non-rotative connection betweensaid extensions and heads, whereby the crank member may be turned tovarious rotative positions of adjustment on said head.

6. Press apparatus comprising a reciprocable pressing member, a pair ofaxially-aligned drive shafts having enlarged heads formed on theiradjacent ends and spaced apart, bearings for said heads, fixed bracketsfor the bearings, a crank member having extensions that are parallel tosaid shafts and normally rigidly supported in the said heads on an axisparallel to but spaced axially from the axis of said shafts, aradially-extended portion on the crank member and operatively connectedto the pressing member, and means supported by the brackets for makingand breaking the rigid connection between the said extensions and theheads, whereby the crank member can be rotatably adjusted to fixedpositions with respect to said heads, about an axis parallel. to theaxis of the drive shafts.

PAUL J. GALBREATH. MARION D. GALBREATH.

